Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

[Gary S.]

I decided to adjust my parking brakes since they are virtually useless - yes I know they are a weak point but mine won't hold on even a slight incline. The Chassis Service Manual has a good presentation on adjusting but it appears that my right parking brake star is frozen. Either that or some other component inside is preventing it.

So, is there any way to get the star to move without drilling the rivets out and removing the rotor? The left adjusted just fine and the star and screw mechanism are relatively shiny when viewed through the hole. The right side is not shiny whatsoever.

Any help here or am I going to pull my original rotors?

thank you in advance.

Gary

[Gary B.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Real small torch tip, thru the hole where you adjust it, heat it red hot, then adjust it. It will break loose. Well, almost always.
I bought some jewelers tips, they work good, and can still get into the hole with a screwdriver to adjust with.
I do the same thing with the 90-degree shoe spreader the rusts together. Heat them, pull the emergency brake, it brakes them loose.
Gary Bosselman

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Gary, thank you for the reply. I had to do some searching not having heard of a jewelers tip before. Is this a pencil torch you are talking about

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=pencil+torch&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=241917146394&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13984415920407860214&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005889&hvtargid=kwd-565574928&ref=pd_sl_ja8wodxjz_e

or something else? I am seeing double hose hookups for welding equipment, small handheld butane units like the Amazon link but the actual idea seems to be something I'm not finding.

And shooting 1000 degree heat in there is safe?

Gary

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Now here is an interesting twist - in the "Corvette 1966-82 Shop Manual" published by Motorbooks International and provides "full maintenance, repair, troubleshooting... etc" there is a parking brake adjustment procedure that states "Pull the handle downward to tighten brake". This is, of course, the exact opposite of the GM correct procedure.

[Gary B.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Here is what I use:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jewelers+torch+tips&sprefix=Jewelers+torch+tip%2Caps%2C185&crid=2G2GZ3K4G9ON4&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ajewelers+torch+tips

Yes, its for an oxygen / acetylene setup. It has a small tip you direct pretty precise to the adjustment barrel. I have had good luck doing this. Is it safe? Well, I have not blown myself up yet, but theirs always tomorrow :-) I don't think it hurts anything, the flame is pretty precise and does not envelope the whole inside of the drum.

I don't think the pencil butane tip will get hot enough, but you could try it. Might be just enough heat to break it loose.

Gary B

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Gary,
Thank you.

Gents, am I chasing after goblins here in that any work on "fixing" the E brake, that we all know is poor, won't yield enough return on the investment? Opinions?

thank you,
Gary

[Edward J.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

I decided to adjust my parking brakes since they are virtually useless - yes I know they are a weak point but mine won't hold on even a slight incline. The Chassis Service Manual has a good presentation on adjusting but it appears that my right parking brake star is frozen. Either that or some other component inside is preventing it.

So, is there any way to get the star to move without drilling the rivets out and removing the rotor? The left adjusted just fine and the star and screw mechanism are relatively shiny when viewed through the hole. The right side is not shiny whatsoever.

Any help here or am I going to pull my original rotors?

thank you in advance.

Gary

Gary, my say is just remove the rotor(s) to adjust, there are only two bolts on each caliper seems a lot easier. I cannot remember if the are any springs in close by the adjuster but if there is and they get to hot you may as well kiss them good by. which will turn a small job into a big job.

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

I have abandoned the torch idea because I don't have one or know anyone with a welding setup. Thus, the follow-on question.

Thank you.

[Gary B.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

No, your not chasing your tail. Your diagnosing a problem. Can't fix a problem until you find the root cause.

If the emergency brake is not holding, then I would bet your pivot is frozen and not spreading the shoes or the spreader bar has become dis-engaged from the shoes.



Attached picture is what I am talking about.

Picture is a stainless steel, which I don't like to use. The notches where the shoes sit in, are to short and the tips are too rounded. They will pop out of the shoes. I take the old steel ones, weld on a little extra to the tips, grind them smooth, then they don't pop out the shoes.

You can diagnose either problem with a small flashlight. Have somebody pull the cable and see if the pivot moves. Look inside the adjustment hole and see if the spreader bar is engaged with the shoes.

Gary B

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Gary B.,
I agree but first I had to follow the GM procedure and that is when I noticed that the star wheel wasn't turning. Diagnosing the system is next once I fix the star wheel. I will, of course, look at the whole setup.

[Gary R.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

Gary
Here is a picture of a LH arm, less axle. I just assembled this one last week and it came with an older set of SSBC SS hardware/shoes that are better than most current kits. As you can see there isn't much to these systems but properly setup will hold a car on a hill.

If your star wheel is seized you're most likely going to have to remove it but I have not tried the small torches. Obviously when I get them they're off the car and need to be rebuilt so I can work around them better then being on the car. With original steel parts the springs break typically and the shoes can be wedged inside the rotor hat causing a groove. The star wheels usually are seized as well. All depends on how the car was driven, stored. If exposed to a lot of moisture there will be issues.

Also as Gary B mentioned the parts in new kits have to be fit. Even these older kits need to have the parts cleaned up to fit correctly. Now with the axles in place the working room is tight but doable.

[Gary S.]

Re: Parking brake adjustment star is frozen

I just wanted to thank those that responded and offered advice. I finished the disassembly of the RR parking brake assembly and it was exactly as I guessed. The star was frozen and only judicious use of a vice and penetrating oil got it free. The pivot that Gary B suggested might be the problem (that the parking brake cable attaches to) was in remarkably good condition and freely moved as it was designed. That's good because I didn't know how to remove that piece! The rest of the hardware is in very good shape, except for the obvious star. I have some new hardware pieces ordered and hopefully I will be cruising on Saturday night.

I was going to wait until I put the car to bed this fall but the weird sound coming from the right rear when I backed up caused me great concern. Good thing that there are some good Van Steel videos on how to assemble the shoes and retainers!

Thanks again,
Gary S.